COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE Fishing ReportFishing Regulations Friday November 9th, 2018 Review News and Information CPW staff, volunteers turn shop at John Martin Reservoir into fish market as they catch, weigh, measure and fillet fish in annual survey The shop behind the John Martin Reservoir State Park dam resembled a fish market recently when Colorado Parks and Wildlife aquatic biologists, staff and volunteers assembled to survey fish in the lake. CPW asks anglers to temporarily stop fishing in the 'toilet bowl' as scheduled maintenance begins at Ruedi Reservoir The City of Aspen has scheduled their annual maintenance of the hydroelectric plant on the dam at Ruedi Reservoir next week, beginning Oct. 29. During the approximately 10-day effort, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will implement a voluntary fishing closure in the toilet bowl. Fishing Basics Saturday, November 10. Have you ever wanted to learn how to fish or haven't fished in a while and need to sharpen your skills? Come join the St Vrain Rangers and staff for an informative and fun-filled morning learning the basics of fishing and trying out your new skills. Kokanee Salmon Regulations and Give-aways. For details on regulations, give-away locations and requirements, see the flyer. Be sure to read the "New for 2018" section. Now you can take the #ColoradoOutdoors anywhere. Follow us on @instagram @coparkswildlife! http://instagram.com/coparkswildlife Check out our CPW community on Facebook. Colorado anglers can “like" the CPW Facebook page to get tips, share stories and more. If you love the outdoors, this is the place to be. Before you head out, head for facebook.com/ColoradoParksandWildlife/. Fish with us on Twitter Colorado anglers can get updates directly from CPW on Twitter. Follow @COParksWildlife. COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Closure Information Due to high water temperatures and low flows, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is implementing voluntary fishing closures on several stretches of rivers in Colorado. The fishing closure are effective immediately, until further notice. Although anglers are not legally prohibited from fishing in these stretches, CPW is asking anglers to fish early in the day and find alternative places to fish until conditions improve. Contact the closest Colorado Parks and Wildlife office for more details. Northwest Region Voluntary Closures Between 2 pm & Midnight and Full Day, 24 hour Voluntary Closures None at this time. Southeast Region Voluntary Closure Between Noon and Midnight Conejos River from Platoro Reservoir down to Broyles Bridge. Closures NO LONGER in Effect Crystal River from Avalanche Creek downstream to its confluence with the Roaring Fork River. Yampa River from Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area to western Steamboat Springs city limits. Eagle River from Wolcott downstream to its confluence with the Colorado River. A mandatory fishing closure in place at the tailwater of the Yampa River has been rescinded (see 7/19/18 news release). Colorado River from State Bridge downstream to Rifle. Colorado River from the confluence with the Fraser River near Windy Gap Reservoir downstream to its confluence with the Williams Fork River near Parshall. Fraser River from Grand County Road 8 in Fraser, downstream through the towns of Tabernash and Granby to confluence with the Colorado River near Windy Gap Reservoir. North Fork of White River at the National Forest boundary, through the mainstem of the river to the County Road 5 bridge, downstream of the Rio Blanco Lake State Wildlife Area. South Fork of the White River from the National Forest boundary thorough the mainstem of the river to the County Road 5 bridge, downstream of the Rio Blanco Lake State Wildlife Area. Roaring Fork River from Carbondale downstream to its confluence with the Colorado River. For a complete up to date list of Fishing Closures currently in effect visit the CPW Website To check closures call your CPW Regional office. In the Northeast Region, call the Denver office at 303-291-7227. In the Southeast Region, call the Colorado Springs office at 719-227-5200. In the Southwest Region, call the Durango office at 970- 375-6708. In the Northwest Region, call the Grand Junction office at 970-255-6100. COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Stocking Report Body of Water Region Report Date Dillon Reservoir Northeast 11/2/2018 Crystal River #1 Northwest 11/2/2018 Crystal River #2 Northwest 11/2/2018 Axial Basin Lake Northwest 11/2/2018 Craig City Pond Northwest 11/2/2018 Stagecoach Reservoir Northwest 11/2/2018 Prospect Lake Southeast 11/2/2018 Quail Lake Southeast 11/2/2018 Wonderland Lake Northeast 11/1/2018 Thornton Gravel Lake #2 Northeast 11/1/2018 Cherry Creek Reservoir Northeast 11/1/2018 Martin Lake Southeast 10/31/2018 Dillon Reservoir Northeast 10/30/2018 Harvey Gap Reservoir Northwest 10/30/2018 Fountain Lake Southeast 10/30/2018 Palmer Lake Southeast 10/30/2018 Runyon Lake Southeast 10/30/2018 Monument Lake Southeast 10/30/2018 Stratton Pond Southeast 10/29/2018 Hale Pond #1 Southeast 10/29/2018 Hale Pond #2 Southeast 10/29/2018 Hale Pond #3 Southeast 10/29/2018 COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Catch of the Week Matthew taking advantage of the twilight hours this fall season. He caught and released this monster brook trout on the fly near Winter Park! Have a fish you're proud of? Share your photo! Email [email protected] and put “Catch of the Week” in the subject line. COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Conditions Report – Metro Aurora Reservoir This 762-acre impoundment is located off of E. Quincy Avenue, two miles east of E-470. As of 11/9/2018, the fishing is currently fair to good but should be picking up as many of the Front Range reservoir’s water temperatures are continuing to drop. The walleye and smallmouth bite is really improving as blade baits are getting good catches of both species. Bottom bouncer rigs with a minnow will be a great technique during the forecasted, cold days we are supposed to be getting. Water temperatures should be falling in the lower 40’s soon. Restricted to electric motors only. For more information call 303-326- 8425. Park hours November 6:30am-6:00pm. Boating will be closed beginning November 30th. This includes hand launched watercraft such as canoes, kayaks, float tubes etc. Aurora Reservoir Chatfield Reservoir This 1,356 impoundment is located in Chatfield State Park. As of 11/9/2018, the fishing has been steadily picking up and improving overall for the walleye bite with the cold weather moving through the Front Range. Main points to hit are the contour lines at around 25-30 feet of water. As of Monday, November 5th, the water temperatures were about 48 degrees. That magic number many guides are looking for is 45 degrees or lower 40’s. The shad are not able to handle water temperatures that low and will begin to die off in larger numbers. Once this threshold is reached, guides recommend using minnows, live baits or imitations. Thursday’s cold weather snap could really get the water temperatures close to that mark so monitor it closely. Current techniques that are getting some good catches are jigging Rapalas and blade baits along those contour lines mentioned in about 25-30 feet of water. Chatfield Reservoir Cherry Creek This 881-acre impoundment is located in Cherry Creek State Park, in Aurora. There are two entrances to the park, the east entrance off S. Dayton St. and the west entrance off S. Parker Rd. As of 11/9/2018, Cherry Creek is slowing down a bit lately as opposed to last month’s reports. The fishing is still really good but not on the same level. Instead of a 20 plus fish day, anglers are getting around 10 decent fish on good days. Same techniques as Chatfield are also getting fish at Cherry Creek. Jigging Rapalas and blade baits on the contour lines. Guides are saying that the walleye bite will pick back up with the colder water temperatures and when the shad start to die off in more numbers. Like previously mentioned, once the shad are few and far between, using minnow rigs will be a great option for consistent catches! Cherry Creek State Park Quincy Reservoir As of 10/31/2018, Quincy Reservoir is closed for the season. Quincy Reservoir Conditions Report - Northeast Colorado Clear Creek As of 11/9/2018, the fishing along Clear Creek has remained really good. The nightly temperatures are lowering the water temperatures enough that you can start fishing a little later in the day. Nymphing is the way to go as we start to shift into winter mode. Bead headed Hare’s Ear, Copper Johns and Psycho Princes are all good point flies. Juju Baetis, RS2’s and various midge patterns in the #18-22 sizes will all be go to choices for your trailing fly pattern for these next few weeks. Flows: 21.2 CFS (11/9/2018) Clear Creek Deckers and Cheesman Canyon As of 11/9/2018, the flows for the river system have dropped to the winter range for the remainder of the season most likely. Fishing will get more technical now and tippet sizes should be decreased, guides suggest 5x-6x sizes for fluorocarbon. Fish will start to stack up in the deeper holes as these nightly temperatures are getting colder and days are getting shorter.